Misericordia Report to the Community

11 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2015-2016 MISERICORDIA HEALTH CENTRE FIRST ANNIVERSARY of PRIME celebrates healthy aging From three or four steps to a lap around the hallway walking track. That's the progress one client at PRIME, a health centre for seniors, has made in her first seven months attending the day program at Misericordia Health Centre. But it's not just the physical changes PRIME manager Sheila Marentette has seen in the client, there's also been a positive impact on her mental well-being and social interactions. "She was quite reserved before and quite withdrawn and now she's got some people she likes to sit with and she'll make some jokes with us," Marentette says. She was referred to PRIME by home-care workers concerned about her ability to live in her own home. She frequently called 911 after falls from her wheelchair and only sporadically took her medication. She hasn't had a fall for months and her meds are now on schedule. "It's given her strength and it's given her confidence," Marentette says. She's one of 65 PRIME clients who celebrated the program's first-year anniversary in May with a party that had everyone dancing. "We are there for some really complicated clients who want to stay in their home, but for whatever reason they're not managing when they use all the supports that are out there," Marentette says. "They end up in the hospitals and the emergency rooms and the urgent care rooms. We want to take those people and help them and help their families be proactive, catch their changes before they end up having to go to the hospital and keep them stable in the community." Retired local pharmacist J. Laurie Johnston praised PRIME's mission when he donated $500,000 toward the program when it was part of Misericordia's redevelopment plans. "I have put my trust in the PRIME program at Misericordia." Johnston said when he made the generous donation. Staff is working hard to ensure his trust isn't misplaced. The program has the capacity for 70 participants, 30-35 per day. They can attend up to five days a week and receive care from a team including case managers, health-care aides, nurses, physiotherapists, recreation facilitators, social workers and a dietitian. They also have access to Misericordia's medical services. Most clients are in their 60s and 70s and donations enhance their experience, Marentette says. Staff recently made a request to the Foundation for a second exercise bike, a sound system with speakers in different areas and a large aquarium filled with tropical fish for clients to help care for and enjoy. "The donors do make a difference. We wouldn't be here without them," Marentette says. "Donations really enhance the client's experience." Rehabilitation assistant Paola Mejia works with client Steve Balazs in PRIME's rehabilitation studio. Medical office assistant Jacquie Blake shares a laugh with PRIME client Jim Erickson. Nurse case manager Anna Cotroneo monitors Royal Keyser's vital signs. Photo: Nilufer Rahman

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